Looking back, Dr. Elliott doesn’t think he could have been anything BUT a hospice doc. “Even in my early residency,” says the native of Bournemouth, England, “I could see that not enough was being done for the terminally ill. Essentially, they were left alone to die. I wanted to change that.” Everything he has done in his career since that moment has led to the enormous contribution he has made to the hospice movement in our community.

Meeting the Dame Herself

Very few have had the privilege of studying directly with Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the modern hospice movement. She has been called one of the most significant social change agents of the 20th century. While on a Geriatric Fellowship in 1976-77, Dr. Elliott gained invaluable personal experience by rounding with her in the mornings at London’s St. Christopher’s Hospice, and attending her afternoon IDT sessions. “She was passionate about making hospice standard care,” he says. “Once, she stood in front of a group of all male physicians and confronted them about what she characterized as their negligence toward dying patients, challenging them to take up the gauntlet of this patient population. She certainly got their attention. The strength of her personality and advocacy for the dying was tangible in the room!”

Young Dr. Kildare had nothing on Young Dr. Elliott
(medical school yearbook in 1974)

Physician’s Creed

After a stint in North Carolina, he eventually settled into Family Practice in Ocala in 1979. It was here that a patient gave him further words to live by – a piece called The Family Physician’s Creed that he keeps on his desk to this day. In part, it states:
“You, the patient, are my first professional responsibility....seeking care, healing or knowledge. You and your family deserve high-quality, affordable healthcare...I support access to health care for all...This is my promise to you.” Over the years, Dr. Elliott has stood by that creed to help innumerable patients through their final days. It always comes down to the patient.

Irene Simpkins, RN, who recently retired, worked closely with him on the East Team: “What stood out for me was his continual patience...with everyone! I never hesitated to call him because he would take the time to consult with me, speak with patients and explain matters to their families – no matter how long it took. He is a model of patience and understanding. Dr. Elliott possesses a rare gift in communicating with families. He has a way of making them feel comfortable to alleviate their concerns and establish a bond of trust that makes the entire experience easier for everyone involved.”

Faith and Family

As he reflects on his years with hospice care, Dr. Elliott says he never ceases to marvel at the role faith holds for those facing a terminal illness. A devout Catholic, he says that families with a strong spiritual base seem to fare better than those without. “Both faith and family ties have remarkable power for these patients and can make the transition less difficult. Even if someone is alone, if they once had close family bonds, it makes a difference in the way they face their own passing.”

Gone Fishin’

Married to wife Karen since 1970, Dr. Elliott plans to spend some quality time in retirement with his family, including their new grandson. An avid outdoorsman, he also intends to give his 5-acre property a more park-like environment, where he enjoys bird watching. The lure of sport fishing will never be far behind as he makes regular trips to Yankeetown to reel in redfish and trout on his new Jon boat. And there may even be a trek down under as he heads for Australia to seek out long-lost kin: “I hear I have relatives there and it’s high time for a reunion.”